News

Man charged in woman's slaying on Obama speech day

The Associated Press

Posted:
02/20/2013 08:05:33 PM PST

Updated:
02/20/2013 08:05:33 PM PST

CHICAGO—Authorities have charged a suspect in the shooting of an 18-year-old Chicago woman killed the same day her sister sat on stage behind President Barack Obama and listened to him push for gun control legislation.

Twenty-one-year-old Jim McPherson faces charges of murder, armed violence, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

He remained in custody Wednesday on a $3 million bond. He's to appear in court again next Tuesday.

Janay McFarlane was shot once in the head last Friday night in North Chicago. McFarlane, the mother of a 3-month-old boy, was in the Chicago suburb visiting friends and family.

Earlier that day, McFarlane's 14-year-old sister was just feet away from Obama at Chicago's Hyde Park Career Academy, where the president spoke about gun violence.